Eddie Calvert - Oh Mein Papa

Eddie Calvert - 'Oh Mein Papa'

8th January, 1954 (8 weeks)

Trumpeter Eddie Calvert scored a number 1 for 8 weeks with his version of the well-known song 'Oh Mein Papa'.

This song actually has a pretty special claim to fame - it was the first UK number 1 single to be recorded at the 'slightly famous' Abbey Road studios.

As a song though... urgh. Just... urgh. Vile.

Frankie Laine - Answer Me

Frankie Laine - 'Answer Me'

13th November, 1953 (8 weeks)

I said 'Answer Me' would be back before you knew it! Making its second appearance at number 1, this time recorded by Frankie Laine, making his 3rd appearance in this position for 1953:

Not content with having the biggest selling single of 1953, Mr Rawhide claimed the 1953 Christmas Number 1 as well with his version of the previous number 1 single. The first (but not only) time a number 1 would be removed by another version of the same song.

Which ties in nicely with the common theme of number 1 singles being a snap shot of popularity, not necessarily cultural trends. Multiple versions of the same version of a song appearing in the charts is still going to this day - the best example probably being the battle for Christmas number 1 2008 between Alexandra Burke and Jeff Buckley, which was of course well and truly won by X-Factor's Alexandra Burke. But more on that 'a bit later on'.

As a song though, I much prefer this version to David Whitfield's. Frankie Laine's voice is much rawer and charged with emotion, lending a greater poignancy to the song over the irritating operatic style of Whitfield.

David Whitfield - Answer Me

David Whitfield - 'Answer Me'

6th November, 1953 (1 week)

David Whitfield was launched to number 1 on the 6th November 1953 with his version of 'Answer Me, My Love' by the strength of a predominately female fan-base.

Interestingly, this song was originally banned by the BBC. Not because Whitfield was a satanic anti-Christ prone to abusing his female fanbase (though imagine the scandal), but because the BBC didn't approve of the original religious connotations. It was actually being directed at God, called 'Answer Me, Lord Above' asking why the poor old chap's lover had left. So Aunty Beeb slapped it with the 'banned' label. Considering how much the BBC gets attacked by 'certain right wing news outlets' for being too politically correct under this government, it's interesting to see they've probably been making the same claims for the past 60 years.

Anyway, a re-recorded version was released with new lyrics directing the song at the lover themselves and cutting out the middle man, if you will, and got to number 1, so here it is:

Personally, I've never really understood the sheer financial power of the young girl market (perhaps that's why I never get any dates. Well, that and I sit at a computer writing blogs about Number 1 singles rather than actually, erm... talking to people). I think this is another example of this lack of understanding. To me, listening to Whitfield's voice is as pleasant as rubbing your ear against sandpaper. Yet he still managed to be very popular. Go figure.

This song itself, however, will pop up again very very soon...

Frankie Laine - Hey Joe

Frankie Laine - 'Hey Joe'

23rd October, 1953 (2 weeks)

Frankie Laine scored his second number 1 with 'Hey Joe' in October 1953.

After the massive success of 'I Believe', this is a slightly less successful number for Frankie Laine. Though that was always inevitable as I Believe was a mega-hit for the man often billed as having 'steel tonsils'. The song itself is an upbeat number, about chasing the same girl his friend is courting. Or whatever term was used in the 1950s. I like the idea that it was courting.

As a side note, Frankie Laine also sang the tune to Rawhide.

Guy Mitchell - Look At That Girl

Guy Mitchell - 'Look At That Girl'

11th September, 1953 (6 weeks)

the 11th of September and Frankie Laine's run at number 1 is ended by Guy Mitchell scoring his second number 1 single with 'Look At That Girl'.

Guy Mitchell is back and singing about girls again. The swine. Though it's less of a novelty record about London Bankers this time and bit more in the big band swing style.

'Guy Mitchell' was just a stage name for Mr Albert George Cernik - an American of Croatian descent. It came about as a result of Columbia Records executive (and producer of this song) Mitch Miller, deciding that Cernik seemed a nice 'guy' and his own name was Mitch. Et voila, Guy Mitchell the superstar was born.

Mantovani & His Orchestra - The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)

Mantovani & His Orchestra - 'The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)'

14th August, 1953 (1 Week)

The second song to hit Number 1, temporarily interrupting Frankie Laine was the mononymous Mantovani & his Orchestra.

And now for something a little bit different, as they say:

The song originally appeared in the 1952 film 'Moulin Rouge' starring José Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor, sung by Muriel Smith with Gabor lip-synching - though it would be Mantovani's version that would score the biggest chart success in the UK.

Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You

Eddie Fisher - 'I'm Walking Behind You'

26th June, 1953 (1 week)

The first song to break Frankie Laine's run at Number 1 was the second entry for the future Mr Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher. As his first number 1 was 'Outside Of Heaven' on the 30th January in the same year, Eddie Fisher became the first act to score 2 Number 1 singles.

Considering the amount of time 'I Believe' would have otherwise spent at number 1, I feel a bit cheated out of that milestone by this utter snoozefest of a song. Below par, Eddie Fisher. Below par. Try harder next time.

Except there won't be a next time for the man who divorced his wife to marry his best friend's widow. At least, not another chance at number 1. By 1959, Fisher would see his television show - and his main source of publicity - cancelled due to a large amount of acrimonious press coverage following his divorce from Debbie Reynolds to marry Elizabeth Taylor.